James
Gray guilty of assault on PC Metcalf
Tuesday 6th May 2008 - Aylesbury Magistrates Court
On Tuesday 6th May 2008, at Aylesbury Magistrates Court, James Gray was
found guilty (in his absence) of assaulting PC Metcalf a Thames Valley
Police officer, during the RSPCA rescue operation at Spindles Farm on
Friday 4th January 2008.
The court heard a very detailed account from PC Metcalf, and magistrate
John Harding explained that the evidence given proved beyond reasonable
doubt that James John Gray was guilty of the assault on the police
officer. Mr. Gray had pleaded not guilty when he attended Aylesbury
Magistrates Court on Monday 4th February 2008.
PC James Metcalf, based at Amersham Police Station, said that on Friday
4th January, Mr. Gray threatened to unleash his Rottweiler on them. He
explained that when he later went to arrest Mr. Gray for damaging an
RSPCA vehicle, Mr. Gray pushed him against the dog’s cage, with the
animal still inside it. James Gray failed to appear at Aylesbury
Magistrates Court to face the charges against him – the court was
informed that he was unable to attend because he was unwell and that he
had been visited by a doctor the night before.
The family was asked to fax over a medical certificate and, as one had
not been received in time, the magistrate decided to proceed with the
case. PC Metcalf said: “The dog was very aggressive. He had crusted-up
eyes and didn’t look very well. Kristy Hampton, an RSPCA officer, told
us that Jamie Gray was threatening to get his dog out on to her. I and
two other officers went to see him and he said if we came near him, he
would release the dog on to us. We then told him to put the dog back
into the cage and he did.”
PC Metcalf said he was later informed by RSPCA officers that Mr Gray had
slashed the tyres of one of the RSPCA vehicles. He said: “I then
approached him to tell him that he would be arrested for this, and he
threatened to head butt me. When I went to arrest him, he grabbed both
my arms and pushed my back against the dog’s cage.
“I then punched him on the nose and the other two officers with me went
to handcuff him. He was then taken back to the station.”
Janet Howard Holmes, prosecuting solicitor, explained that although
there were two more witnesses, their story would only support the police
officer’s account and therefore did not need to be heard. Mr Harding
said: “A medical note was received but not by the time we requested it
for.
“However, given that a medical note had eventually been supplied, Mr.
Gray was given unconditional bail until Tuesday 20th May 2008; when he
is due to appear at Aylesbury Magistrates Court to be sentenced. If he
fails to appear, a warrant will be issued.” Mr. Gray was not represented
in court.
James
Gray sentencing 10th June 2008
Mr. Gray was also due to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on
Wednesday 7th May 2008, to face charges brought by Buckinghamshire
Trading Standards. 4 charges were brought against him, which include
failing to dispose of 16 animal carcasses from Spindles Farm and giving
false information when applying for a licence to transport animals.
James Gray did not appear at
High Wycombe Magistrates Court either, but sent a doctor’s note which
said he was suffering from gastroenteritis. The case was adjourned until
Wednesday 21st May 2008 at 2pm at High Wycombe Magistrates Court, when
it will be heard.
